Roki Sasaki Has a 7.00 ERA and Dave Roberts Just Made a Massive Call About His Future

The Los Angeles Dodgers are riding out the storm with Roki Sasaki in the starting rotation, no matter how bad it gets. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed this week that when Blake Snell returns from the injured list, Sasaki stays as a starter. He's not getting bumped to the bullpen. That's a huge vote of confidence for a 24-year-old right-hander who is currently imploding.

A Brutal Start Gets Worse Every Outing

Sasaki is sitting at a 7.00 ERA through 9.0 innings in his first two starts of 2026. In his most recent appearance against the Washington Nationals last Sunday, he gave up six earned runs over 5.0 innings. The damage got so bad that his signature pitch, the forkball, became a liability instead of a weapon.

According to MLB insider Dylan Hernandez of the New York Post, Sasaki has lost command of that devastating forkball that used to tumble like a knuckler because of its extremely low spin rate. Now he's missing badly with it, and the results are catastrophic. One pitch against the Nationals was so far off the mark it ended up middle of the plate, and James Wood crushed it for a three-run homer during a four-run fourth inning for Washington.

Roberts Staying Patient While Snell Waits

Here's what matters: Snell hasn't pitched yet due to left shoulder fatigue and is currently on the injured list. The Dodgers expect him back sometime in May. That gives Sasaki runway to figure things out before any conversation about the rotation changes.

"When Blake comes back, Roki will not be in the bullpen," Roberts said flatly.

Sasaki gets his next chance this Saturday against the Texas Rangers. The clock is ticking, but the leash is still there.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.